PETITION TO CREATE A TOWN COUNCIL FOR RETFORD
Why does Retford need a town council?
Retford has a long history of managing its own local affairs. East Retford Borough Council provided local services until it was abolished in 1974 and merged with Worksop Borough, Worksop Rural District, and East Retford Rural District to form Bassetlaw District Council.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is likely to replace Bassetlaw District Council with a much larger unitary council serving around 500,000 residents. It is expected that the new council will be created in 2028. Many Retford residents are concerned that in the future they will have even less of a say on local matters, less accountability, and less representation.
Residents are also concerned about the future of Retford Town Hall, as well as the town’s local history, culture, and traditions. There is a concern that a future unitary council could seek to sell important town assets in order to save money.
Many towns across England either already have town councils or are in the process of forming them. Nearby Harworth & Bircotes and Newark have had town councils for many years, and towns such as West Bridgford, Grantham, and Loughborough are also exploring the process of creating town councils.
What could a town council do?
Town and parish councils are elected in the same way as district and county councils. Anyone who is registered to vote and meets the eligibility requirements can stand for election as a councillor, and local residents choose their representatives through local elections.
Most town and parish councils operate on a non-political basis, with residents of different political views working together in the best interests of their area. This is the approach we would like to see in Retford.
A Retford Town Council could take responsibility for important local assets and services such as the Town Hall, Kings’ Park, the market, and the organisation of events such as Charter Day. Town councils have legal powers such as:
- Power to acquire land and buildings
- Power to provide recreation grounds, public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces
- Powers to provide allotments
- Power to acquire and maintain cemeteries
- Power to provide and maintain bus shelters
- Power to repair and maintain footpaths and bridleways
- Power to light roads and public places
- Provision of litter bins
- Right to object to planning applications
- Power to provide public toilets
- Power to maintain, repair, protect and adapt war memorials
What will it cost?
Town councils are funded through a Council Tax precept. The level of the precept varies across the country, and it would be for elected town councillors to decide the appropriate precept and set the annual budget.
Harworth & Bircotes Town Council currently levies a charge of £126.96 per Band D property per year. The amount paid by each household depends on the Council Tax band of the property. For a Band A property, this equates to £85.06 per year, or approximately £7.08 per month.
What will happen next?
If this petition is signed by at least 7.5% of registered voters in Retford, Bassetlaw District Council must carry out a Community Governance Review.
As part of that review, the Council would consider whether a new parish should be created for Retford, whether a town council should be established, what the boundaries should be, and how councillors should be elected.
Recommendation
We call upon Bassetlaw District Council to conduct a Community Governance Review and to make the following recommendations:
- A new parish should be created comprising the area of the wards of East Retford East, East Retford North, East Retford South, and East Retford West (shown in Map A)
- That the new parish be named Retford
- That a parish council be established for the new parish, to be known as Retford Town Council
- That the proposed parish of Retford be divided into wards for the election of councillors.
East Retford Charter Trustees 